Automatic transmission



J. J. DRABIN June 27, 1939.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Filed Sept. 6, 1953 3 Sheets-Shegt 1 w r. F W4. 1 Hz K 1 U H mm H w I m m a a. v a w INVENTOR BY 74., I,

ATTORNEY Jane 27, 1939. J, J. DRABIN 2,163,872

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Filed Sept. 6, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOHN cf. D/M BIN INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Patented June 27, 1939 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE .w'rom'no TRANSMISSION New York Application September 8, 1933, Serial No. 688,339

18 Claims. (Cl. 192--.01)

My invention relates to an automatic transmission and has particular reference to a transmission for an automobile or a similar automotive vehicle.

In ordinary automobile transmissions the gear shift is accomplished manually, the operation requiring a certain amount of skill on the part of the driver. The gear shift is made easier by certain improvements, such as an automatic arrangement for synchronizing the respective gears before bringing them into mesh, also a more or less automatic operation of the vacuum motor for the engine clutch.

It is desirable, however, to have a fully automatic transmission, in which all the gear shifts (except for the reverse) are accomplished automatically, without any attention from the driver.

The object of my invention is to provide such an automatic transmission. For this purpose I provide a vacuum cylinder connected through a valve with the intake manifold of the automobile engine, and I connect this cylinder with the gear shifting rods in the transmission. I provide a mechanism for selectively connecting the cylinder with one or the other of the shifting rods; for controlling and operating the selective connections Iprovide a centrifugal governor connected with the driven shaft of the transmission. I also provide operative connections between the governor and the valve of the cylinder in order to operate the proper gear shifts when corresponding predetermined speeds 'of the driven shaft are reached., Means is also provided for adjusting manually these gear shifting speeds of the governor.

For the most satisfactory operation of my system it is desirable to have a servo motor for operating the engine clutch. I prefer to use for this purpose also a vacuum cylinder connected with the intake manifold of the engine. The controlling valve of this clutch cylinder I connect with the governor in such manner that the clutch is automatically disconnected every time when gears are shifted,

It is possible to use the engine as a brake with my system, and I also provide means to prevent the gears from being shifted when the brake is applied, except when the speed drops below a certain predetermined minimum, at which point a low gear becomes automatically brought into mesh, and the engine clutch becomes disconnected in order to prevent stalling the engine.

With my system it is possible to revert to the manual gear shift if necessary, in which case the automatic devices become disconnected.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specification and drawings in which Fig. 1 is a partial elevation of the automobile power plant with my system shown more or less diagrammatically, Fig. 2 is a detail view of the governor, Fig. 3 is an elevation of the transmission partly in section, Fig. 4 is a top view of same, Fig. 5 isan end view of same, Fig. 6 is a detail view of the brake pedal and its connections with my system, Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing gear shifting connections with the first speed connected, Fig. 8 is a similar view with the gears brought back into their neutral position, Fig. 9 is a similar view for the second speed in operation, Fig. 10 is a view of the gears in neutral, Fig. 11 is a view showing position of the levers for the third speed, Fig. 12 is another transitional neutral position, Fig. 13 is a view of the connection between the emergency brake and the accelerator, Fig. 14 is a detail view of the camshaft, Fig, 15 is a view of the starting switch, Fig. 16 is a detail view of the manual gear shift, Fig. 1'7 is a gear shift interlock, Fig. 18 is a view of a modified arrangement, Fig. 19 is a detail view of the camshaft, and Fig. 20 is another detail view of the camshaft.

I use in my arrangement a standard gear housing or box I for ordinary transmission gears 2-.-

Gear shifting rods 3 and 4 are provided, the rod 3 being for the reverse and first speed, and the rod 4 for the second and third speeds. The rods are provided with slots 5 for the manual gear shifting lever 6 rotatively supported in a bracket 1 and held in a middle or inoperative position by springs 9. The handle 8 is usually removed and the bracket covered with a lid 9. The reverse gear is shifted manually by a lever ii engaging a slot III. A rod l2 connects the lever II with a crank l3 in which slides a rod 35 with a bushing l3 and a handle I slidably fitted in' a dashboard I5. A spring latch I5 engages slots 3', 4' and 5' for the first speed, neutral and reverse.

The rods 3 and 4 have pins l6 passing through a slot l1 and connected with the ends of arms l8 pivotally supported on pins l9 at the sides of the box I. The lower ends-of the arms are pivotally connected with links 20 the other ends of which are pivoted to selector bars 2i and 22. These bars are pivotally joined together at the middle point 23 which is also pivoted to the endof a sliding rod 24.

The other end of the rod 24 is attached to a piston 25 sliding in a cylinder 25. The ends of the cylinder are connected by pipes 21 and 28 with a four-way valve 28. The third outlet of the valve is connected with the outside air through a filter box 38 filled with metal shavings or similar air filtering material. The fourth outlet is connected by a pipe SI with the intake manifold 32 of the engine 38. A valve 34 is placed in the pipe 3i and is connected by a rod 35 with the handle I8 of the reverse gear shift.

' A camshaft 35 is rotatively supported in brackets 3i mounted on the sides oi the housing or box I. This shaft has three cams 38 spaced 120 apart and adapted to press down selector fingers or pins 88 88' and 88" slidably supported in a guiding bar 88. Springs 8i tend to keep the fingers in raised position. When depressed the fingers slide into holes 82 in the selector bars 2i and 28. A gear 83 is mounted on the shaft 38 and is in mesh with a gear sector 88 rocking on a shaft 85 supported in a bracket 88. The other end of the sector arm 81 has a fork 88 engaging a, slot 88 on a hub 58 sliding on a vertical shaft iii of a governor 52. The governor shaft turns on a foot bearing 53 and has a worm 88 on its upper end in mesh with a worm gear 55 mounted on a driven shaft 56 of the transmission. The springs 57 of the governor are pivotally supported on an upper hub 58 which is attached to the shaft 5i. The upper ends of the springs flare out under a sliding plate 88. A helical spring 88 is placed between the plate 58 and a sliding bushing 8i. The latter has trunnions 82 fitted in forked ends of a lever 88 pivoted at 68 and connected by a link 65 and lever 88 with a handle 87 on the dashboard I5.

The hub 88 and the plate 88 turn with the shaft iii, the hub being fastened with a pin 88, and the plate sliding on a key 88. A bell l8 extends down from the plate forming a protective housing for the weights 52 and, at the same time, preventing the weights from flying apart too far at high speeds. The shaft 5! has three notches, ll, '52 and I3, corresponding to the first, second and third speeds, the range of the second speed being between the second and third notches, and for the first speed between the first and second. The hub 58 has a transverse hole in which a pin 14 slides being pressed against the shaft 5i by a spring 15.

A lever I8 is pivoted with one end in a bracket 11, the free end extending under the bushing 58. A cable or chain I8 extends from the lever 78, passes over a sheave I8 and is connected with a lever or rod 88. The latter is pivotally connected with a brake pedal 8|. A spring 82 tends to turn the lever into engagement with the end of a valve 83 pulling on the cable I8 and tending to raise the lever IS. A roller is provided on the free end of the lever 88 to facilitate its sliding over the end of the valve. The latter is curved at the end so as to prevent the rod 88 from sliding over too far. A spring 84 tends to keep the valve in the raised position with a pin or shoulder 85 on the valve limiting the upward movement so as to keep the valve open with its aperture registering with the central passage in a valve body 86 through which passes a pipe 81 connecting the manifold 32 with a vacuum cylinder 88. A groove 89 in the valve 83 connects the cylinder 88 with the outside air when the valve is closed 0: pushed down against the tension of the sprin 8 A supplementary lever 89' may be provided in order to bring the cable 18 to the side of the gear box I, as shown in Fig. 4. The lever 89 is con- A piston 8i is fitted in the cylinder in: and is connected by a rod 82 with an outside lever 88 connected by a rod 84 with an inside lever 88 engaging a sleeve on a clutch plate 81 of the engine flywheel 88. The atmospheric pressure on the piston 8| disengages the clutch when there is vacuum in the pipe 91. A second valve I88 is placed in the pipe Ill in the housing 88. provided with a bleeder slot 88 for admitting air into the cylinder, and it has a lug I88 and a retrieving spring I II which tends to keep the valve open. A second spring lII' resting against an enlargement valve. A spring I61 provides a resilient connection between the accelerator pedal M8 and the valve, the upper end of this spring resting against a knob or enlargement I81. The valve I88 has an extension 88 connected by a rod I88 with a supplementary throttle or butterfly valve 88 leading from the carburetor (not shown) to the manifold 82. This valve is opened when the valve I 88 is opened. A lever I88 mounted on a pin I8I engages the lower end of the extension 98 when rotating on the pin under action of a spring I13. The other end of the lever I88 is connected with a rod I82 slidably connected with a rod I82. A spring 282 tends to keep these rods apart thereby deflecting the lever I88 to the right against the tension of the spring I13. The rod I82 is connected with a lever I18 pivoted on a pin Ill and engaging a triple cam I72 on a shaft 88. The projections of the cam I'I2 are located midway between. the points of the cams 38. A hook 283 rotating on a pivot 288 under action of a spring 288 engages a shoulder 288 thereby preventing the rod I82 from moving to the right. A cord 28'! connected with the rod I88 releases the rod I82 when the valve I46 is opened.

The pipes 3| and 8? merge together into a common pipe H2 provided with a cock H8 Which can be closed by hand if it is desired to disconnect the automatic features of the transmission and to operate it manually.

A transmission interlock is provided in order to prevent the reverse from being engaged when second or third gear is in mesh. For this purpose a lever H4 is provided pivoted on a pin H5 and having a slot H6 adapted to engage the operating end of the reverse gear shift lever I I. The lever H4 is connected by a link I I"! with the end of an interlock lever II8 pivoted on a pin H9 between the rods 3 and 4. The other end of the rod H8 has a slot engaging a pin I28 on the end of the rod 4 which operates gears for the second and third speeds. As shown in Fig. 17, any displacement of the rod 4from its neutral position will cause a pull on the link II'I closing the lever II4 over the gear shift lever II thereby locking the latter.

The rod 88 has a resilient lug I2 I adapted to engage a lever I22 during the first part of the movement of the brake pedal. The lever is connected by a rod I23 with the throttle valve I24 in the intake pipe I25 of the engine. The valve I24 is connected with the accelerator by a lever I24 and the rod I23 and is used to control the operation of the engine.

A starter switch is shown in Fig. 15. It consists of an insulated contact block I26 mounted on a board I21 and connected with the starting motor I26 and a battery I21. A second block I28 is mounted on the same board. The blocks are tapered so that a contact is established between It is" 588 limits the movement of the a lard them when a metal-plug I23 is inserted between them. A contact block I30 on a rod "I is slidably fitted in a clutch pedal I32 and is provided with a spring I33 and a collar I33. The block I23 is mounted on a. rod I35 with' a insulation block I33 between them. The rod I35 is attached to apiston on a diaphragm I31 in a cylinder I38. A spring I39 tends to push the piston down keeping the block lit in contact with the blocks I26 and lit. A pipe ltd connects the cylinder with the manifold it. it set screw l ll is provided for locking the bloch lit in the raised position when the battery is too weal; tor cranking the engine, and the latter is started by towing the car with the transmission connected.

The accelerator Ill is provided with a locking device operated by the emergency brahelever H2 as shown in Fig. 13. a roller N3 is supported on a spring I04 and is attached to a cable Mt the other end of which is attached to the emergency brake lever l ll. When the lever is pulled back, the roller l ll is pulled under the accelerator pedal thereby rendering it inoperative.

A supplementary valve Mt is placed in the pipe ll and is connected by an arm ill and a rod ill with a lever lllt pivotally mounted on a bracket fit. The other end of the lever W3 iits under the bushing so of the governor so that the governor in its low position corresponding to a certain minimum speed, turns the lever llll thereby opening the valve l a spring llll tends to keep the valve closed. An arm I53 extends from the valve l lt slidably engaging the rod Hit. A spring I53 opens the valve llt when the accelerator pedal is a depressed.

The pinion 43 turns freely on the shall; 36 and is connected by a spring I03 with a. cam I'l2 which also turns on the shaft 36 and is connected by a spring Hill with the cam 33. (Fig. 19). A spring ltd is placed on the shaft 33 and is attached with one end to the gear 33, and with the other end to the cam ll? tending to keep the cam I12 midway between the axes of the cams 39.

A fork I50 engages the cam I12 with suflicient clearance to permit the rocking of the cam between the sides of the fork while the cam 38 retains its contact with the corresponding pin 39. The fork is mounted on a rod II with a retaining shoulder I55 and a. spring I53 adapted to keep the fork-in the raised position. The other end of the rod I5I is pivotally connected with a lever I51 rotating on a pin I13. The other end of the lever I51 has a roller I15. This arrangement is shown schematically in Fig. 20, the rod I5I being actually displaced irom the axes of the pins 39 in order to clear the bar 30.

The roller I is engaged by a pawl or hook I13 on the rod 23. The pawl is pivoted on the rod and has a lug I11 preventing the rotation of the pawl to the right. The pawl therefore can engage the roller I15 and turn the lever I51 only when the rod 23 reaches the end of its travel to the left. On the way back to the right the pawl turns without lifting the roller I15. When the roller is raised, thefork I5I'is lowered thereby releasing the cam I12.

The rod 02 has 9. lug I13 connected with a rod I13 passing througha bearing I30. A bushing IN is fastened on the rod I19 and another bushing I32 slides on the rod. A spring I33 is placed on the rod and is fastened with its ends to the bushings I3I and I32 (Fig. 6). a

The valve 29 has arms I33 and I35. The arm the stops I33. A spring I31 tends to keep the valve turned to the left into a position in which the in this position by a hook I33 pivoted on a pin I39 and provided with a roller I33 in the middle.

. A spring I9I presses the hook down. Its downward movement is limited by a stop I92. The

roller is placed at such distance from the rod I19 that the bushing ltl lreely passes under the roller while the larger bushing ldl engages the roller and releases the hoolr from the arm Hill. The bushing ill engages a lug let on the valve thereby turning it one quarter of a turn until the bushing m2 passes over the lug I93. This happens be cause the lug M3 is displaced to the right as shown in Fig. 6. The lug M3 and the arms llll and llfi are connected with the inner rotating core of the valve, the outer shell being stationary and connected with the pipes 21, 23 and ll. The valve is retained in its new position by the end of a lever ltll engaging the arm l35 shown with dotted lines in its new position. A spring lit tends to turn the lever ltl to the right after it has been deiiected by the arm ldt. The other end of the lever ltl rests against the lower end of the rod lhl so that the latter, when lowered, turns the lever lQl thereby releasing the arm I85 and permitting the valve to be turned to the left by the spring lt'l.

A bloclr lid is pivotally connected with the lever it and is also connected by a rod ill with the gear shifting lever l3 which operates the second and third speeds. The connection is made so that when the third speed is used, the block Mt is moved near the governor and becomes engaged by the bushing 50 at a speed approaching the speed at which the second gear becomes engaged. A spring 203 tends to move the block away lrom the governor.

A rod it! is pivoted on a pivot I93 and has a lug I96 pressed against the extension 99 by a spring l99. A slot W9 is located on the extension 99 just below. the pin I35 when the valve I03 is supported in the open position by the springs ill and Hi. When the extension 99 is pushed up by the lever I00thereby retaining the valve I08-in the open position even if the accelerator pedal is depressed. The opening in the valve I03 is made sufliciently large to keep the valve open in its raised position. The lower end of the arm l 91 may be engaged by a spring or resilient lug 2I0 supported on a rod I attached with one end to the rod 23 and sliding with the other end in a bearing 2I2.

A simplified arrangement is shown in Fig. 18. This arrangement is used with a conventional type or transmission having a vacuum clutch motor and an ordinary type of synchromesh gear shift. The governor I53 in this case is driven by a chain I59 from a sprocket I33 on the transmission shsft 53'. The sliding bushing I6I has a rotating collar I32 connected by a. rod I33 with the lever 30. The connections are made so that the lever is pushed on the valve stem 33 when the governor I53 is in its slow speed position thereby opening the valve 33 and releasing the clutch. This arrangement permits the free coasting of the car down hill when the accelerator is released, uses engine as a brake when the brake pedal is depressed, and prevents the engine from being stalled if the speed 01 the car is reduced below a certain sate limit. p

The operation of my system is as follows.

With the engine not running thefirst or low gear is in mesh, the pin 33 engaging thebar 2|.

The pin I93 engages the slot 203 4 I The reverse gear shift handle 14 is held by the latch I5 engaging the slot 3'.

If the engine is not running, there being no vacuum, the clutch will be engaged although the. valves 83 and I08 are open. The car being in low gear, it will not roll by itself, so that it will not be necessary to apply the emergency brake under ordinary parking conditions. In order to start the engine the clutch pedal I32 is depressed releasing the clutch andclosing the starter switch. When the engine starts up and vacuum is built up in the manifold, the cylinder 98 will be energized releasing the clutch. The clutch pedal may be then released and will not be needed as long as the engine is running.

The reverse gear can be used only when the transmission is in low gear due to the transmission interlock shown in Fig. 17; If it is desired to use the reverse, the handle I4 is pulled out. During the first portion of its movement the rod 35 will slide freely through the hole in the lever I3 so that the latter will not move until the rod I9 reachesthe lever. The valve 94 will then be closed and the bleeder slot I05 opened intothe pipe SI, thereby admitting air to both sides of the piston 25. The rod 24 can be then moved freely. With the further pull on the handle I4 the gears will pass the neutral point at the notch 4' and then will go into the reverse at the notch 5. The automatic gear shift will remain inoperative as long as the reverse is used. This is necessary in order to prevent any gear shifting operations from taking place if the speed on the reverse reaches a high point. The clutch will remain engaged as long as the accelerator pedal is depressed which actioncloses the valve I08. but

will be again disengaged as soon as the accelerator pedal is released.

The governor bushing ,in its lowest position engages the ends of the levers 15 and I09. The,

bushing is held in this position by the pin 14 engaging the notch 1 I. Thelever 16, pulling on the rod 18, disengages the rod 80 from the valve 83 thereby permitting the same to remain open regardless of the position of the brake pedal. The pull of the lever I03 keeps the valve I46 open.

When the engine is running, the low gear remains in mesh, and the car will move forward as soon as the accelerator pedal is depressed thereby closing the. clutch valve I08. As the speed of the car increases, the governor will tend to raise the bushing 50, but will be held by the pin 14 until the speed reaches a value corresponding to the limiting speed at which the second speed is used. At that speed the bushing 50 will be forced out of the engagement with the slot H and will jump to the next slot 12 where it will be held. The spring I04 will be wound, but the cam 28 will remain in contact with the pin 39, as the cam I12 will be held by the edge of the fork I50.

The points of the cam I12 being narrow, the corresponding point will slide off the end of the lever I10, which accordingly will be free to turn I to the right under pressure from the spring I13,

this pressure being transmitted through the rods I02 and I02 and the spring 202. The lever I00, passing under the end of the bar 99, will raise the same until the notch 209 comes in opposition to the lug I98 which will accordingly engage the notch, holding the valve in the open position regardless of the pressure from the accelerator peda], as the passage in the valve I08 issuificiently large to keep the pipe 81 open in these positions.

The pipe 81 will be now open, the brake pedal, of course, not being used,,s o that the piston 9| will move to the right due to the vacuum, releasing the engine clutch. The movement of the rod 92 will bring the pivoted block I82 against the lug I98 of the valve 29, not moving the latter, however, the arm I84 being held by the hook I88. The spring I88 will be compressed until the block I ll raises the roller I90 releasing the hook I88. At the end of the travel of the piston 9|, therefore, when the engine clutch is fully released, the valve 29 will snap through .a quarter of a turn under pressure from the spring I83 which is much stronger than the spring I81, the

.lugI85coming to rest against the post I86,

deflecting in its movement the lever I94 and passing above its end. The arm or lever I88 will come to rest against the support I92. In this position of the valve the block I82 will slide over the lug I99. The left side of the cylinder 26 will be now connected with the vacuum pipe 3| and the right side with the atmosphere, so that the piston 25 will move to the left bringing the gears into neutral, as shown in Fig. 8. The gears 0311-.

ton 25 to the left when the gears are brought into the neutral, the latch I11 raises the roller I15 thereby lowering the fork I50.

The cams will turn to the position correspondingto the notch 12 of the governor, and the next lug of the cam I12 will be caught by the returning fork I50. The downward movement of the rod I5I of the fork will also turn the lever I94 thereby releasing the valve 29, which will accordingly return to its original position by making quarter of a turn to the left. The arm I84 will be caught under the hook I88. The valve I08 remains open all this time as the spring 2I0 deflects while passing to the other side of the arm I91. With the valve 29 in the left position the piston 25 will move to the rightshifting the second gear into mesh as per Fig. 9. The speed of the movement of the piston 25 can be adjusted by turning the throttle valves 2I8 in the pipes .28. Upon completion of the movement of the piston 25 the spring 2I0 will engage the arm I91 releasing the extension 99 from the lug I96 and permitting the valve I08 to be moved down and closed by the pressure from the accelerator. The engine clutch will he therefore engaged by the pressure from the clutch spring. Prior to the release of the rod 99 the next lug of the cam I12 will pass under the lever I10 turning the lever I00 to the right. In this position of the mechanism the car will continue to travel on the second gear. With the further increase of speed, when it reaches the limiting value for shifting to the high gear, the governor will pull the bushing 50 oil? its place turning the cam I12 and turning thereby the lever I00. The valve I08 will be open, and the sequence of gear shifting operations will again take place until the transmission will be changed to the high gear or third speed, with the pin 39" replacing the pin 89'.

It may be noted that the pins are being changed only when the selector bars 2I and 22 are aligned for the neutral position.

The car will continue to travel on the high 5 nd gear unless the gears are shifted at the gear with the governor locked on the notch II. It will be prevented from any further movement upward by the bell 19 holding the weights Whenever the accelerator pedal I I9 is released, the valve I99 will return into its open position by the spring I91, the notch 209 not reaching, however, the lug I96. The vacuum pipe 3| being open into the cylinder 98, the engine clutch will be released, and the car will coast with the engine disconnected from the transmission. The valve I" being closed, the hook 2" (Fig. 6) will be pulled up by the rod I, engaging the end of the arm I" and locking the valve 29 in the operative position for the gears in mesh. The movement of the piston 9i to the right, therefore, cannot turn the valve 29, the block I82 resting against the lug I93 and the spring 583 being compressed. The raising of the arm I88 by the block Ill will not change the conditions as long as the hook 2I'I engages the arm I85. The gears can be shifted, however, if desired, from the third to the second gear, when the car speed is approximately correct for such a shift, by depressing the accelerator for a short period. This action will release the valve 29 from the hook thepin 39' will take place of the pin 39".

'With the further slowing down of the car and with the accelerator depressed (for instance,-

If the car is coasting with the accelerator pedal.

released, then the valve I08 isopen thereby keeping. the clutch released; the valve I46is closed by the spring I" thereby rendering the motor (cylinder) 28 inoperative; the hook 203 holds the rod III! preventing the arm I00 from moving even when the lever I'IIl becomes released; the hook 2 l1 holds the valve 29 preventing its movement even when the piston 9i moves.

As soon as the brake pedal is depressed, however, the valve becomes closed, rendering the motor (cylinder) 98 inoperative and permitting the engine clutch to become engaged. The engine is then used as a brake. If it is desired to use the second gear for the brake. then the car speed is brought down sufliciently for such a change, and the accelerator depressed for a short time. until the change is completed.

If the car speed drops to a certain low limit while driving in high gear and using brake, then the governor bushing 59, depressing the levers I8 and Ill, will open the valve I", rendering the gear shift operative for change to the low gear, pulling at the same time the rod 80 from the brake and opening the valve 83, thereby releasing the clutch. The engine is prevented thereby from being stalled by the application of the brakes. The release of the clutch takes place sooner if the high gear is in. as then the block I48 is advanced to the govemor. I

In using the brake on high gear it is not necessary to shift to the second by the use of the accelerator as described, and the gears will be governor speed drops below a predetermined limit. If the third gear has been shifted to thesecond while using the brake, and the speed rises again, then the braking will continue on the sechigher speed by the use of the accelerator.

In passing directly from the third to the first gears, the governor will slide from the notch 19 to the notch II winding the spring I through two thirds of the turn or 240.

The speeds at which the governor changes the gears can be changed or regulated by changing the tension of the springs 51. This is accomplished by pulling or pushing the governor handie 51 on the dashboard. The lever 63 is thereby turned one way or the other, changing the tension of the spring 60 which in turn changes the pressure of the plate 59 on the ends of the spring 51. The bushing 6i slides on the shaft ii on a keyway similar to the keyway 89.

The auxiliary lever I22 for opening the main throttle valve I24 by the brake pedal BI is needed in order to raise the speed of the engine at the moment when the brakes are applied. This will equalize the engine speed with the speed of the transmission shaft so as to obtain a smooth engagement of the engine clutch.

In case of some defects in the automatic transmission mechanism the ordinary manual gear shift can be used by inserting the handle 8 into the socket of the rod 6 and closing the valve 3.

The handle 8 can be used for engaging the reverse gear if the handle 2 I4 tied to the handle II is actuated thereby releasing the latch M3.

The emergency brake may be very seldom used with my system, therefore its handle maybemoved out of the way into a corner. The clutch pedal is used only for starting the engine and for running when. the automatic gear shift is disconnected, so that this pedal can be also placed out of the way into a comer. This leaves the floor in front ofthecar free from-any encumbrances and permits the comfortable seating of three passengers.

The starter, Fig. 15, operates automatically when the clutch pedal is depressed. The starting motor is automatically disconnected as soon as the engine picks up speedand develops vacuum which causes the rod I35'to rise thereby pulling the block I29 up and disconnecting the switch.

My system has the following important advantages:

l. The driver does not use his hands for shifting the gears, except for the reverse. He uses only brake and accelerator pedals, all the gear shifting being done automatically at proper car speeds. Only one foot is used, either for depressing the accelerator, or for the brake pedal.

2. The superfluous pedals and handles can be removed from the driver's side thereby leaving the space clear for the extra passenger.

3. With my system it is not necessary to use any special free wheeling devices thereby saving in their cost and weight. The engine clutch is automatically disconnected when the accelerator is released.

4. The engine can be used as a brake at will either on the high, second or third gears. 5. The range of car speeds at which the gears 1 are automatically shifted can be varied by the are employed. automatically shifted to the low gear when the I 7. The synchronization of the gears is made easier as in each change of gears they are brought at first into the neutral.

8. The gears are shifted automatically from second to third when climbing a hill and back from the third to the first when braking down hill 9: There is no danger of the engine being stalled when stopping the car or slowing it down by braking, as the engine clutch automatically disengages at a predetermined slow speed of the car.

10. The engine stops in the first gear which serves as a parking brake.

11. There is no danger of driving the car with the emergency brake set, as the accelerator cannot be then used.

12. The starting up hill is made easy as the fore starting the engine.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic transmission for an automobile, the combination with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be selectively connected for different gear ratios, of sliding members for shifting said gears, a motor adapted to shift said gears, a centrifugal governor operatively connected with the driven shaft of said transmission, means to change said connections by said governor at predetermined speeds, means to disengage the engine clutch when said connections are being made, means controlled by said governor for operating said motor when said connections are made for shifting said gears and when said clutch is. disconnected, means to disengage said clutch when the accelerator pedal is released, means to render said motor operative when said accelerator pedal is released, and means to release said clutch and to connect the low gear when said governor drops into a predetermined low speed position.

2. In an automobile having a geared transmission between the engine and the driven shaft. the combination with a centrifugal governor, means to rotate said governor by said driven shaft, an air operated motor a clutch operatively connected with said motor, for disconnecting said engine from said transmission, a pipe connecting said motor with said engine, a valve in said pipe operated by the accelerator pedal, a second valve in said pipe, a resilient means to keep said second valve open, a movable lever operatively connected with the brake pedal of said automobile and adapted to engage said second valve, and an operative connection between said lever and said governor, said governor being adapted in its low speed position to disengage said brake pedal from said second valve.

3. In an automatic transmission for an automobile having an engine clutch and an air cylinder for disengaging said clutch, the combi nation with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be shifted for different gear ratios, of sliding members in said housing for shifting said gears, an air motor, operative connections between said motor and said members, means to render said connections selectively operative for shifting different gears, means to controlsaid air cylinder by the rotational speed of the driven shaft of said transmission, means to control the movements of said motor by the rotational speed of said driven shaft and by said disengaging means, and means to control said selective means by said rotational speed and by the movements of said motor.

4. In an automatic transmission, the combination with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be selectively connected for different gear ratios, of sliding members in said housing for shifting said gears, -a motor adapted to selectively shift said gears, a centrifugal governor on the driven shaft of said transmission, means to control said selective connections by said governor, means to lock said governor in definite positions corresponding to different gear shifts, said governor being adapted to move rapidly from one of said positions to the other, means to release the engine clutch by the movement of said governor, and means to shift said gears by said motor when said clutch is disengaged and said connections are made.

5. In an automatic transmission for an automobile, the combination with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be selectively connected for different gear ratios, of sliding members for shifting said gears, a motor adapted to selectively shift said gears, a centrifugal governor operatively connected with the driven shaft of said transmission, said governor being adapted at predetermined speeds to change said gear connections, means controlled by said governor for disengaging the engine clutch when said connections are being changed, means controlled by said governor for rendering said motor operative when said connections are made, and means to disengage the engine clutch when said governor is in its extreme slow speed position.

6. In an automatic transmission for an automobile, the combination with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be connected for different gear ratios, of sliding members in said housing for shifting said gears, an air motor, means to render said motor selectively operative for shifting said gears through said members, means to control said selective means by the rotational speed of the driven shaft of said transmission, means to disconnect the engine clutch of said automobile when said gears are being shifted by said motor, means to control said disconnecting means by the rotational speed of said driven shaft, 2. manual means for shifting said gears into the reverse, means to render said manual shift inoperative when other gears are connected for forward speeds, and means to render the forward gear shifts inoperative when said reverse gear is in its operative position.

7. In an automatic transmission for an automobile, the combination with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be connected for different gear'ratios, of sliding members for shifting said gears, an air motor, means to render said motor selectively operative for shifting said gears through said members, means to control said selective means by the rotational speed of the driven shaft of said transmission, an automatic means for disconnecting the engine clutch of said automobile when said gears are being shifted, a pedal for manualcontrol of said clutch, a switch for the starting motor of said engine, means to operate said switch by said pedal, and means to render said switch inoperative when said engine is running.

8. In an automatic transmission for an automobile, the. combination with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be connected for different gear ratios, of sliding mem- ,speed of the driven shaft of said transmission,

a motor for disconnecting the engine clutch of said automobile, means to render said clutch inoperative when the brake pedal is depressed,

means to maintain said clutch motor operative regardless of the position of said brake pedal when the rotational speed of said driven shaft is at a predetermined low limit, and means to I maintain said clutch motor operative at a predetermined speed above said low limit when other than the low gear is in operation.

9. In an automatic transmission for an automobile, the combination with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be connected for different gear ratios, of sliding members for shifting said gears, an air motor, means to render said motor selectively-operative for shifting said gears through said members, means to control said selective means by the rotationaispeed of the driven shaft of said transmission, means to render said motor operative by depressing the accelerator pedal, retrieving means for rendering said motor inoperative when said accelerator pedal is released, and means to render said motor operative regardless of the position of said accelerator pedal when the low speed gear in said transmission is placed in an operative posi- 'tion.

10. In an automatic transmission for an automobile, the combination with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be con nected for different gear ratios, of sliding memhers in said housing for shifting said gears, a motor connected with said sliding members, means to render said motor selectively operative for shifting different gears, means to controi said selective means by the rotation speed of the driven shaft of said transmission, means to disengage the engine clutch from said transmission when said gears are being shifted, means to disengage said clutch when the accelerator pedal is released, means to engage said clutch when the brake pedal is depressed, and means to open the throttle valve of the carburetor of said engine during the first portion of the movement of said brake pedal, said throttle opening means being adapted to become inoperative with the further movement of said brake pedal.

11. In an automatic transmission for an automobile, the combination with a housing containing transmission gears adapted to be connected for different gear ratios, of sliding members in said housing for shifting said gears, a motor, operative connections between said motor and said members, means to render said connections selectively operative for shifting different gears, a governor operated by the driven shaft of said transmission and controlling said last named means, means to release the engine clutch when said gears are being shifted, means to render said clutch releasing means inoperative when the accelerator pedal is depressed, and means to render said accelerator pedal inoperative'when the emergency brake is placed in its operative position.

12. In an automobile having a transmission between the engine and the driven shaft, the combination with a governor operatively connected with said driven shaft, means to disconnect said engine from said transmission, operative connection between said disconnecting means and the brake pedal of said automobile adapted to render said disconnecting means inoperative when the brake pedal is depressed, and means to render said operative connection inoperative when said governor is in its slow speed position.

Id. In an automatic transmission for an automobile having transmission gears, an'engine, a clutch between said engine and said transmission, the combination with a motor adapted ,to

shift said gears for different gear ratios, a centrifugal governor operatively connected to the driven shaft of said transmission and adapted to control said gear shifting motor, said governor being adapted to move rapidly between positions corresponding to certain gear ratios, a power operated means for releasing said clutch, means to render said power operated means operative by the movement of said governor between said positions, means to retard the operation of said gear shifting motor until said clutch is released by said releasing means, and means to render said clutch releasing means inoperative when said motor completes the shifting of said gear for a new gear ratio.

ed to be operative at certain positions of said governor, an engine operated means for releasing said clutch, means to render said clutch releasing means operative by the movement of said governor between said positions, means to retard the operation of said gear shifting motor until the clutch is released by said means, means to render said clutch releasing means inoperative when said motor completes the shifting of ears for a new ratio, means to render said releasing means inoperatlve when the accelerator pedal of said automobile is depressed, and means to render said releasing means operative with the depressed accelerator pedal when said gear shifting operation takes place.

15. In an automatic transmission for an automobile having transmission gears, an engine, a clutch between the engine and the transmission, an accelerator pedal for controlling the engine, the combination with a motor adapted to shift said gears for different gear ratios, a centrifugal governor operatively connected with the driven shait of said transmission and adapted to control said gear shifting motor, a motor for releasing said clutch, means to render said clutch releasing motor operative by said governor when said gov ernor moves from one operative position to the other, said operative positions corresponding to the shift of the gears by said gear shifting motor, means to render said clutch releasing means inoperative when said gear shifting motor completes the shifting of the gears, and means to render said gear shifting motor inoperative when said accelerator pedal is released for all gear ratios other than the low gear.

16. In an automatic transmission for an automobile having transmission gears, an engine, a clutch between said engine and said transmission, the combination with a motor adapted to shift said gears for different gear ratios, a governor operatively connected to the driven shaft of said transmission and adapted to control said gear shitting motor, said governor being adapted to move rapidly between positions corresponding to certain gear ratios, a power operated means for releasing said clutch, ineans to render said power operative means operativeby the movement of said governor between said positions, means to retard the operation oi said gear motor until said clutch is released by said releasing means, and means to render said clutch releasing means inoperative when said motor completes the shitting of said gear for o new gear ratio.

1'7. In an automotic t b new: sion for an automobile hoving trunnion gears, an engine, a clutch between the engine and the transmission, the combination with a motor adopted to shift said gears for diilierent geor ratios, n governor operatively connected with the driven shoft of said transmission and ndopted to control said gear shifting motor, said motor being adopted to be operative at certain positions of said governor, on e onernted means for releasing said clutch, menne to renoler eaio elnteh releasing means operative lay the movement of said governor between said positions, means to reterd the operation of coin gear shitting motor until the clutch in relented by said means, means to render said clutch mennn inoperative when coin motor eomnieteo the shifting of genre for a new ratio, means to render said releasing means inoperative when the accelerator pedal of said automobile is depressed, and means to render said releasing means operative with the depressed accelerator pedal when said gear shifting operation takes place.

18. In an automatic transmission for an automobile having transmission gears, an engine, a clutch between the engine and the transmission, an accelerator pedal ior'controlling the engine, the combination with a motor adapted to shift said gears for diilerent gear ratios, a governor operatively connected with the driven shaft of acid transmission and adapted to control said gear shitting motor, a motor for releasing aaid clutch, means to render said clutch releasing motor onerative by said governor when said governor moves from one operative poaition to the other, said operative positions corresponding to the shift of the gears by said gear ehiiting motor, means to render said clutch releaeing means inoperative when said geor shitting; motor completea the shifting of the gears, and means to render said geor shifting motor inoperative when cold nocelerator model is relenoeol for ell gear rntios other them the low gear.

Jomv J. DRAQBHT. 

